RANDOM DRUG TESTS WOULD BE A MISTAKE

Why do officials feel that it's necessary to trample on children's
constitutional rights in the name of the drug war? These kids are going to
grow up not knowing their God-given and constitutional rights. What
happened to innocent until proved guilty?

The June 2 article "Random drug tests proposed for students" raises some
serious concerns. James Haessly, the Waukesha School District's executive
director of student services and special education, said, "It's a
controversial area. It's an area that raises lots of questions." I couldn't
agree more.

I have a few questions for the School Board and the people of Waukesha. The
article said that marijuana would likely be the main target of the drug
tests. Does the board know that random testing pushes users away from
marijuana and into harder drugs?

Marijuana, a fat-soluble substance, can be detected 30 days after someone
has used it. Cocaine, heroin, meth and ecstasy, water-soluble substances,
can only be detected one to three days after the last use. The marijuana
problem will be solved and be replaced with a hard drug problem.

Second, why do officials feel that it's necessary to trample on children's
constitutional rights in the name of the drug war? These kids are going to
grow up not knowing their God-given and constitutional rights. What
happened to innocent until proved guilty and protection against
unreasonable search and seizure? Those rights must not apply to students.

Instead of this insane plan, let me offer my hometown and my fellow
citizens this plan:

First, offer honest drug education that truthfully compares the hazards
associated with each drug. Drug Abuse Resistance Education does not work
and may even be counterproductive.

Second, instead of accepting grant money to test students, use it to offer
them somewhere to go or something to do. A skate park, a youth center, a
pool hall, anything. I grew up in that suburban maze of neighborhoods and
strip malls. There is no place for these kids to go.

These two acts alone, if implemented properly, would help reduce drug use
more than random testing ever could.

Before the people of Waukesha put their children up on the sacrificial
altar of the drug war, they should ask themselves something: Will random
testing for drugs do anything except alienate these teenagers more? Isn't
there a better way to make sure these kids grow up in a drug-free lifestyle?

Arthur J. Fink, Waukesha West High School '97, Winona, Minn.